ISLAMABAD: A property tycoon along with his staff and some police officials were booked on the charges of trespassing and criminal intimidation allegedly committed about six years ago.

The case was registered by the Bhara Kahu police on the directives of a court.

The FIR stated that Haji Nawaz, a resident of Bhara Kahu, owned a piece of land at Phulgran and secured it by constructing a wall around.

“On May 4, 2012, staff from Bahria Town at the behest of Malik Riaz and Dr Hafiz armed with weapons raided the land along with machinery and bulldozed the wall, trees and damaged the land,” the FIR stated. It also alleged that a team from Bhara Kahu police, including a sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector, in uniform had supported the accused.

Later, they took away the machinery after the complainant and others reached the site.

The FIR said the police had been informed about Bahria Town staff’s arrival at the land and that there was also sound of gunshots.

Later, another police team reached the site and during investigation it transpired that there was no firing and that the complainant and Bahria Town had an ownership dispute over the land.

Bahria Town claimed that it had purchased the land and paid the amount to its owner but the latter denied it.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhara Kahu Inspector Hakim Niazi told Dawn that the complainant had reached a settlement with Bahria Town so the case was not registered at that time.

“Now the complainant approached the police with the court orders which led to the registration of the case,” the SHO said.

He said an investigation had been launched to establish the ownership of the land.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2018